Three gigs by jazz pianist Mnana
BLIND pianist and singer Yonela Mnana is embarking on a nationwide tour presenting his debut album, Baba. The first leg of this tour, in association with Concerts SA, will see Mnana’s Soul Xpedition Quartet perform at three venues around Cape Town, before continuing his tour through KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
Many compare Mnana’s soul, jazz and classical music genius with Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles – although his singing, piano playing, composing, teaching and arranging skills are distinctly South African.
During the first week of November, the pianist will be performing his compositions with the Soul Xpedition Quartet. Led by Mnana on keys and vocals, the quartet comprises Keenan Chas Ahrends on guitar, Nick Williams on bass, and Claude Cozens on drums.
Mnana grew up in Mamelodi (Pretoria). Born in the Transkei and schooled in Pietersburg, his travels privileged him with a rich soundscape including African and Western choral styles, kwaito, with R&B, soul, 90s popular music and traditional music in the auditory periphery of his missionary boarding school, Siloe.
While enrolling for a B.Mus at the University of the Witwatersrand evidenced a commitment to study music, the tutelage of Marian Friedman and Malcolm Nay (for classical piano studies), Nishlyn Ramanna, Andile Yenana, Mncedi Kupa and mentorship of bassist Jimmy Mngwandi ushered him into a real life jazz experience.
He has since played with Zim Ngqawana, Sydney Mnisi, Clement Benny, Marcus Wyatt, Loraine Klasen, Bheki Khoza and Barnie Rachabane. To date, he has recorded with Lex Futshane and Mandla Mlangeni’s the Amandla Freedom Ensemble on their respective debut albums.
He continually navigates the Joburg, Cape Town and Durban jazz club circuit with fellow musicians and friends such as Ariel Zamonsky, Sphiwe Shiburi Sisonke Xonti, Mthunzi Mvubu, Nhlnhla Mahlangu and Lindiwe Maxolo. He is also embarking on other unreleased projects by Mandla Mlangeni, Spha Mdlalose and an eclectic musical endeavour with London house deejay Q.B. Smith, school choral works with Soultee, SA School Choral Esteadford and Ezibeleni’s Vivacious sounds.
See him at True Italic tonight at 8.30pm, 15 Bree St, (021 418 7655), Drawing Room on Saturday at 8.30pm, 87 Station Road, Observatory (082 672 0515) and Kwa Sec on Sunday at 3pm, 52 NY 138, Gugulethu (082 093 5369). - Staff writer